It's Time to Start Thinking About Conferences

image courtesy of paul

I know, I know. Christmas isn't even here yet, but it's not that far away. And with the new year right around the corner it got me to thinking about writing conferences. I attended two last year OWFI and MWG. Both are in the planning stages for 2010. Each was good and had lots to offer in the way of speakers, motivation and opportunities.

OWFI is a class act and hard to beat. The quality just keeps getting better. MWG was smaller than normal last year, but I still got my money's worth.

Last year was my 2nd year for OWFI and my 4th or 5th year for MWG. For me, attending conferences is all about two things, networking and pitching my novel. So this year I've decided to branch out and try another conference or two.

Any suggestions? I'm curious about Jackson Hole Writer's Conference, Mad Anthony, Northern Colorado Writers Workshop, Society of Southwestern Writers, South Carolina Writers Workshop Conference.

But I'm open to suggestions. Any of you have any tried and true conferences or workshops that you attend?

Tell me...

Visit Missouri in April

Spring is a great season in Missouri. The dogwood and redbud are in bloom. And if you need another reason to come the Missouri Writers Guild holds a great conference every year.

The 94th Annual Missouri Writers Guild Conference will be held in Cape Girardeau, MO, Plans are underway, so watch their website as details unfold. The 2009 conference will be held April 3-4, 2009.

Conference Buzz

Wow! The Missouri Writer's Guild just wrapped up. I'm pumped. There's nothing like a conference to get the ink flowing in my veins. I don't know if it's the speakers, rubbing elbows with agents and editors or the alcohol, but I always come away from a conference motivated.

I have to give a shout to NAOMI SHIHAB NYE. When I first saw in the conference brochure that our keynote speaker was a poet, I thought Arrrrrgh. I'm not a poet, don't want to write poetry and don't read poerty. Well, guess what. She's an amazing speaker and her poetry is awesome. So, if you don't write poetry, don't shy away from listening to poets. Naomi blew away all my misconceptions about poets and poetry. She was a delightful speaker, and I would go back just to hear her.

Now go buy her book Honeybee and you'll see what I mean.